The deer hunting industry is full of product options. Drill down to items that deer hunters tend to place emphasis on and still, many categories remain. Two of the more important industry sectors are deer scents and odor control products.
Of course, deer scents come in various forms; food-based, curiosity-based, rut-based, and cover scents are all popular among hunters. Odor control is much the same — options range from A to Z.
If you want to increase your odds of a close encounter with a whitetail, it pays to make smart choices when it comes to deer scents and odor control. With that in mind, here are 23 options to consider putting into play this fall.
Deer Scent Products
Code Blue Grave Digger Scrape Mate Dripper
The Grave Digger Scrape Mate Dripper by Code Blue is a great compliment to some of the company’s soil-based products. It works well for real and mock scrapes. This even comes with an adjustable drip rate. Depending on the setting used and environmental conditions, it should last 1 to 3 days. www.codebluescents.com
Code Blue Buck Tarsal Gland
The Code Blue Buck Tarsal Gland is another unique product from Code Blue. It contains real tarsal gland material and comes soaked in pure buck urine. This all-season product is great for stopping deer for a shot, jumpstarting mock scrapes, or elevating real scrapes. www.codebluescents.com
Wildlife Research Center Golden Estrus Xtreme
Golden Estrus Xtreme from Wildlife Research Center is made with premium Golden Estrus Scent and intensified for extra long range whitetail attraction. This proprietary process makes it stronger and more intense. The 2-ounce bottle is equipped with a removable squirt top cap, making it easy to use by squirting directly onto a favorite scent dispenser, or by dipping a Wildlife Research Center Key-Wick directly into the bottle for application to whitetail scrapes and licking branches. www.wildlife.com
Tink’s Hunt Success Combo
While these individual products aren’t new, Tink’s is offering this combo, which is new for 2023. In it you get the Trophy Buck, No. 1 Doe-P, and No. 69 Doe-in-Rut 1-oz bottles. The Trophy buck is great from early season through the rut. The No. 1 Doe-P works well all season. And the No. 69 Doe-in-Rut is best from pre-rut to post-rut. Each of these are packaged for increased longevity. This combo pack is also available as a synthetic offering. www.tinks.com
Wildlife Research Center Active-Branch
The new Active-Branch by Wildlife Research Center is the dream tool for those looking to add a licking branch to a mock scrape. It attaches quickly to a tree or wooden post. It even allows you to attach two branches, which increases the chances of deer adopting it. The top branch is perfect for a dripper, and the bottom branch serves as the licking branch. www.wildlife.com
Odin’s Innovations Scents
Odin’s Innovations’ synthetic scents infused into its unique release beads produce a strong, effective scent. These release scent for 30 days or more. Furthermore, the product is rain-proof; it continues to work even after heavy rain or snow. Even so, these are completely biodegradable. Scents come in acorn, apple, cherry pie, citronella, doe estrus, dominant buck, earth, jelly donut, peanut butter, scrape blend, sweet corn, and vanilla. www.odinsinnovations.com
Code Blue Rope-A-Dope
The Rope-A-Dope by Code Blue is designed for mock scrapes. Attach it to a limb, or an existing licking branch, overtop the scrape. Ultimately, it acts as the licking branch or a supplement to it. Bucks deposit scent via their various glands. Using the special gel formulation, hunters can create a long-lasting scrape product for rubbing activity. This includes a weather-resistant cotton synthetic blend rope (3 feet) and 2-ounce bottle of Rack Rub gel. www.codebluescents.com
Tink’s Smokin’ Stogies
Tink’s new offering, Smokin’ Stogies, is a variety of the No. 69 Doe-In-Rut synthetic lure. It is formulated to smell like fresh peak estrus doe urine. All a hunter must do is light a Smokin’ Stogie. Then, it smolders with no open flame for up to 3 hours. This sends scent-infused smoke downwind. Even better, it sticks to vegetation it contacts, and remains good and smelly for hours. This is a solution for hunting during freezing temperatures that can render liquid lures inoperable or less effective. It’s offered in a two-pack. www.tinks.com
Wildgame Innovations Wild Estrus Burst
Wildgame Innovations’ Wild Estrus Burst is 100% pure doe-in-estrus urine. This product sprays over a great distance, which helps hunters stay well away from the treated area. Furthermore, it projects scent quietly. This is offered in a 7-ounce bottle. www.wildgameinnovations.com
HME Scent Web
The Scent Web by HME is scented foam that lasts up to 5 days after application. It is offered in numerous options, including Apple, She-Heat (doe in estrus), Elk (cow in estrus), Hog (sow in estrus), She-Duction (doe urine), Scrape Venom (buck, doe, and tarsal gland), Smokey Bacon, Sweet Corn, and Vanilla Acorn. These are up to 300% more potent than liquid scents, reactivates with moisture, and don’t include messy liquids. The web will spray from up to 10 feet away and contains up to 300 feet of scented foam string and (up to 20 uses per can at 1-second bursts). Use it on branches, bushes, scrapes, trees, etc. www.hmeproducts.com
Hot Trails New Mini Lanterns
Hot Trails Scented Hunting Candles offers a series of mini lanterns, available in three colors: black, silver and copper. These are made from aluminum and a screw-on bottom to make it easier to insert, light, and secure the candle. www.hottrails.com
Wildlife Research Center Premium Spray Cans
Wildlife Research Center Premium’s pressurized Spray Cans come in multiple forms. Buck Nip is made from secret plant derivatives as a curiosity scent. These cans also come in Golden Scrape and Golden Estrus Elk. These are 3-ounce cans with a sprayer. www.wildlife.com
Odor Control Products
Dead Down Wind Black Premium 3-Piece Odor Elimination Kit
The Dead Down Wind Black Premium 3-Piece Odor Elimination Kit is an advanced system designed to minimize unwanted scent in the field. Its NidorX technology attaches to and destroys odors. Paired with the ScentPrevent Enzyme Technology that breaks down molecules and prevents these from reforming, it is an effective product. It comes with laundry detergent, field spray, and 3-in-1 soap (body wash, shampoo, and conditioner). www.deaddownwind.com
Wildlife Research Center Scent Killer Gold Bar Soap
Wildlife Research Center’s Scent Killer Gold Bar Soap is now offered in an updated formula. It features a special unscented, anti-odor formula with special moisturizers and Aloe. Supplement this product by stocking the entire scent prevention system. www.wildlife.com
Hunters Specialties Scent-A-Way Bio Strike Odorless Spray
The Scent-A-Way Bio Strike Odorless Spray by Hunters Specialties offers a patented formula that is third-party lab proven. It implements Nanoshield technology for increased efficiency. Its atomized molecules attach odors. It comes in a 12-, 24- or 32-ounce bottle. www.hunterspec.com
Hunters Specialties Scent-A-Way MAX Ultimate Hunting Kit
Another full-system offering is the Hunters Specialties Scent-A-Way MAX Ultimate Hunting Kit. It includes useful pre- and in-hunt products. Altogether, it includes eight products. www.hunterspec.com
Nose Jammer Silent Series
The Nose Jammer Silent Series spray is for those who want sound-free stealth in a quiet package. This offering includes a 4-ounce Silent Pump Spray that hinders games’ ability to sense odors. It also has a 2-ounce Rub-On Wax Stick with time release formula. It even includes a 28-gram Dust for wind detection and protection. All three are loaded with olfactory-blocking technology. www.nosejammer.com
Lethal 360 Field Spray
The 360 Field Spray by Lethal combats odors on clothes, fabrics, gear, boots and more. It features a pre-mixed formula that neutralizes tough odors without fragrance. Furthermore, the spray bottle allows a continuous spray with the push button pressed on top. This permits the user to spray in all directions (even upside down) with no loss of pressure. It does this without propellants. www.lethalproducts.com
Scent Thief Combo Pack
Scent Thief’s Combo Pack loads up a 12-ounce spray bottle and 32-ounce refill jug. Its patented No Smell Technology targets and relaxes an animal’s olfactory epithelium, which is the area responsible for smell. It temporarily diminishes an animal’s ability to detect odors. Made in the USA. www.scentthief.com
ATSKO Zero N-O-Dor Pro Pump Kit
The ATSKO Zero N-O-Dor Pro Pump Kit oxidizes organic molecules into odorless compounds. It destroys — not masks — unwanted scents. This kit offers a 1-liter pressure bottle sprayer, a 4-ounce trigger sprayer, a 4-ounce Sport Wash Detergent, a 4-ounce Hair and Body Soap, and four pairs of concentrate A and B mix (makes four batches). The kit produces a gallon of ZERO N-O-DOR Oxidizer. www.atsko.com
WildGame Innovations ZeroTrace PureION Field Generator
The WildGame Innovations ZeroTrace Pureion Field Generator is an ozone system that helps neutralize odor. Thanks to PureION technology, it dispels unwanted scent particles. It’s lightweight and rechargeable. The kit includes one generator, one collar-lock mounting bracket, one charging cable, and two rechargeable batteries. www.wildgameinnovations.com
Ozonics OrionX
The OrionX by Ozonics is a continuation of the reputable brand’s success. It also features an XL battery (twice the battery life compared to the HR300) offering up to 10 hours in standard mode and 8 hours in boost mode. Additionally, this product includes Hyperboost mode (25% more ozone) and is compatible with the Smart Arm mounting system. Furthermore, pair the OrionX with a Driwash Bag, Kinetic Pack, and the O.N.E. Gear Locker. Plus, this new unit’s rubber over-mold design helps reduce sound in the field. It measures 7W x 2.5H x 6.5L inches and weighs 1 pound. www.ozonicshunting.com
Ozonics HR500
Another offering by Ozonics, the HR500 takes things a step further. It is the company’s most advanced unit, and it is up to 40% quieter in Boost Mode. The battery lasts up to 10 hours in Standard Mode, up to 8 hours in Boost Mode, and up to 6 hours in Hyperboost mode. Once fully depleted, it takes 4 to 5 hours to recharge. Plus, its new design is even sleeker and easier to conceal from game. And best of all, the HR500 is app-enabled and remote-capable. This reduces the odds of deer seeing you while using the unit. It measures 7W x 2.5H x 6.5L inches and weighs 1 pound. www.ozonicshunting.com
Sidebar: A Diverse Scent Industry
Different scent companies joined the game at different times. Tink’s (www.tinks.com) is one of the originals, getting its start in 1972. It seems to be the first official deer urine company on the market. Tink Nathan started it out of his garage with general deer pee. His goal? Simply give those around him an edge. He recognized the ability to attract deer with scents, and he started using that knowledge to produce a helpful product. Eventually, it grew into a large business. Today, it offers an array of products. Tink’s recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Interestingly, some of Tink’s leaders attribute its success to its “Coca Cola recipe,” (but for deer pee). Sure, it’s mostly deer pee, estrus, etc. However, Nathan says there are additional ingredients that make it so attractive to deer. According to him, only two people in the world know the exact recipe.
Like Tink’s, Wildlife Research Center (www.wildlife.com) has been around for a long time — about 40 years. It started as a small-time operation by two brothers and became a serious contender in the industry.
Furthermore, Bill Moore founded Hot Trails (www.hottrails.com) in 1989. “My brother had a business making scented wax,” he said. “I went to work for him learning how to do it.” Moore used his knowledge of the scented wax business to create Hot Trails Inc. His candles burn for about 4 hours and consistently emit scent.
Some companies didn’t enter the landscape until the 2000s or even the 2010s. For example, Vapor Trail Scents (www.ghilliemonsteroutdoors.com), which started in 2008, works with heated scents, too. But Vapor Trails implements a unique mentality: it bottles a two-doe estrus.
Another more recent introduction to the market is RAW Scents (www.rawfrozenscents.com), which originally started with the implementation of frozen deer scents in 1988, but the RAW brand didn’t kick off until 2014. “Freezing deer urine is the only way to keep it at its freshest state,” said Elam Lapp Jr, owner and founder of RAW Frozen Scents. “Deer urine is no different than meat or most food. It quickly starts breaking down after collection, if not frozen.”
Another company approaching the scent industry differently is Paul Black’s Odin’s Innovations (www.odinsinnovations.com), which started in 2018. In fact, it operates on the opposite end of the spectrum from RAW. It’s 100% synthetic and lasts up to 30 days.
Still, other companies, such as Code Blue (www.codebluescents.com), stick with traditional methods. It opened its doors in the early 1990s, and its brand is built around the one buck, or one doe, in one bottle. It continues to focus on liquid scents, and the demand for it has only increased.
“Our focus is on pure deer urine collected from a single deer, which is what you will find in our Code Blue lineup,” said Product Manager Matt Wade. “This is exactly what bucks smell in the wild. We firmly believe that meticulous collection from single deer gives our customers the advantage afield.”
Despite the mix of modern twists and revelations, and more traditional views of deer pee, Tink’s, Code Blue, Wildlife Research Center, and other major manufacturers say their top-selling products remain the tried-and-true buck urine, doe urine, and doe estrus formulas in bottled liquid form. Still, the newer products are cool, and consumers will ultimately decide the deer pee emperors of tomorrow. The point? Hunters have plenty of options and can experiment with different things to see what works best for them.
Of course, as in any industry, some companies seem to have more success than others. What separates the most successful scent companies from the competition? There isn’t just one thing, but the product itself certainly helps.
Despite the necessity of navigating uneasy waters and wakes from CWD, most in the deer scent industry believe in a bright future. “I see a bright future for the industry, and I don’t see it going anywhere,” Wade said.
